Parachute and container



April 26, 1949. H. D. s'rALLwoRTH PARACHUTE AND CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet2 I Filed June 17, 1946 INVENTOR. HENRY D. STAL/.WORTH ATTORNEY April26, 1949. H. D, STALLWORTH 2,468,130

PARACHUTE AND CONTAINER Filed June 17, 1946. 4 sheets-sheet 5 INVENTOR.N/PY D. SML/.WORTH ATTORNEY l `April 25, 1949- H'. D. sTALLwoRTH2,468,130

PARACHUTE AND CONTAINER Filed June 17, .194e 4 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTOR.E HENRY D. STALLWOHTH it BY l Patented Apr. 26, 1949 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE PARACHUTE AND CONTAINER Henry D. stauworth, United statesNavy,

Houston, Tex.

Application June 1'7, 1946, Serial No. 677,143

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a parachute and container therefor.

Parachutes presently known in the art have an undesirable tendency tosway, or oscillate, while descending, thereby not only interfering withdescent control by the parachutist but also increasing the landinghazard. Furthermore, known parachutes have an undesirably high descentrate and an undesirably long opening time, which are not onlydisadvantageous at times, but may be actually dangerous where shortdescents are to be made. Certain other operative features on knownparachutes are not optimum and improvement thereof is highly desirable.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedparachute which has high stability, whereby a substantially verticalattitude is maintained during descent.

It is another object of this invention to provide a parachute which willopen rapidly upon being released from its container. Y

It is another object to provide a parachute which, after opening, willdescend at a lower rate than that achieved by presently knownparachutes, at the same time maintaining itself subg5 stantiallyvertical.

It is another object to provide a parachute adapted to be easily andpositively controlled in its rate of descent, during descent.

It is another object to provide a container especially suited to holdthe parachute of the present invention.-

It is a further object to provide a parachute and container of improveddesign and safety.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention. Ihave provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of whichis illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is avperspective view of a parachute 40 embodying the features ofthe present linvention in opened, or operating, position taken from apoint at the side and slightly below the parachute; f

Fig. 2 is a view, similar to Fig. 1, taken from 45 a point at the sideand slightly above the parachute;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the lower end of the centrally dependingparachute member constituting a feature of this invention;

Y Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of one of the vent members constructed inthe top portion of the parachute canopy; Fig. 5 illustrates thecontainer of this invention adapted to receive the parachute; v

Fig. 6 shows a wire frame member forming the supporting structure forthe fiat members of the container shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 illustrates one method of forming the hinge members for the frameof Fig. 6;

Figs. 8, 9, and 10 illustrate progressively the opening action of theparachute as it is ejected from the container when a parachutist pullsthe rip cord;

Fig. 11 illustrates certain features of the parachute and will be usedin explaining the operation and advantages of this invention;

Fig. 12 illustrates a conventional parachute, and is used to point outcertain disadvantages therein; and

Fig. 13 shows the parachute of this invention with its centrallydepending member pulled downward to increase the rate of descent.

The parachute of this invention is characterized by an air resistancemember depending from the inside center of the open canopy of theparachute.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention, this member is fabricatedin conjunction with an'opening formed in the top of the canopy where themember joins the canopy. The canopy and the depending member, which issubstantially tubular in shape, are preferably formed continuously, sothat the general configuration of the parachute (neglecting shroudlines, harness, and accessories) is approximately that of a rotategamopetalous corolla ower. During descent, the stem portion of theparachute, formed by the depending tubular member, tends to greatlyminimize oscillation of the parachute, thereby permitting improvedcontrol by the parachutist.

The container of the present invention is characterized by a flatpacking member interposed between the packed shroud lines of theparachute and the folded canopy thereof, which member is biasedoutwardly against the canopy to rapidly eject the same upon opening ofthe container.

Understanding of the details of the present invention may best be had byreference to the drawings as follows:

Parachute In Figs. 1 and 2, two views of a descending parachuteconstructed according to my invention are shown, the rst being takenfrom below the parachute, the second from above it. In these views, 20represents a parachute canopy, the outer portion of which resemblesclosely a conventional device. In the center of the canopy Adensity nearcone apex 23.

and substantially around the axis thereof is an opening 2i'. From theperipheral edge of the opening 2i there descends down the center of theparachute a tubular member or sleeve 22, shown in the preferredembodiment as an inverted cone having the base thereof at the edge ofsaid opening 2l with its apex 23 pointing downward. The axis of cone 22will, during use of the parachute, maintain a substantially verticalattitude. It is preferred to construct cone 22 and canopy 28 in onecontinuous piece, as shown, thereby rendering the general configurationof the device thus far described similar to a rotate garnopetalouscorolla flower, with cone 22 corresponding to the stem of the flower,and canopy 28 corresponding to the petals extending downward around thestem for an appreciable portion of height of the stem.

Conventional shroud lines 24 depend from the outer edge of canopy 29 andare attached to a conventional harness 25 through straps 26 and rings21. Apex 23, shown more particularly in Fig. 3, is attached to each ofthe four rings 21 by anchoring lines 28, the latter serving to preventapex 23 from being pulled upwardly under the canopy. In addition toanchoring lines 28, there is attached to a ring 29 at apex 23 a controlline 38 having means, such as knots 3|, by which a parachutist may drawapex 23 toward harness 25 for the purpose of speeding descent. Tacklines 32 serve to keep the lower end of control line 39 withinconvenient reach of the parachutist in harness 25.

As mentioned hereinbefore, canopy 29 and cone 22 are preferably formedcontinuously, and to this end the canopy shroud lines 33 are continuedfrom the outer edge of thefcanopy around the top and down the sides ofcone 22 until-they reach a circular seam 34. Seam 34 is of reinforcedfabric to provide a terminus for the inner ends of the canopy shroudlines 33. Every other canopy shroud line 33 terminates at the seam 34,with the odd lines continuing as cone shroud lines 35. The reason forthe division of shroud lines -at this point is the desirability oflessening lshroud line At apex 23, cone shroud lines 35 continue into aflat sewed end 31. The end of cone 22 at apex 23 is sewednat, as shownat 33 to provide area for securing the suspension ring 29.

'Io provide release for excessive air pressure developed under canopy 22immediately upon opening thereof, a plurality of vents are provided asshown by the numeral 39. Vents 39 are positioned preferably immediatelyover canopy shroud lines 33, as shown particularly in Fig. 4. Each vent39 comprises a collar 48' of partially folded material having an elasticband 4l in the inner edge thereof. It will be noted that canopy shroudline 33 continues across the face of vent 39 to maintain canopystrength. f

Container I'o provide improved container means for the above describedparachute forming one of the features of this invention, there has beendevised the parachutercontainer shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In Fig. 5, aparachute container 42 having flaps 43, 44, 45 and 46 is shown. Tocontainer 42 is attached a substantially rectangular frame 41 (Fig. 6).Frame 41 includes a number of rods or heavy wires secured together toform a substantially hat, base frame 48. On one longitudinal edge 49 offrame 48, a co-extensive rod or wire 59 is secured by angle supportingpieces 4 5l. Hinged on rod 50 by members 52, is a flat, flap frame 53.Frame 53 is adapted to be pivoted relative to frame 48 by the hingingaction of members 52, but is normally biased to an unfolded or openedposition by suitable springs 54. A flat, flap frame 55 is hinged at 56to longitudinal edge 51 of base frame 48 opposite edge 49 in a mannersimilar to ap frame 53. It is noted that frame 58 is of less length thanbase frame 48 and is spring-pressed outwardly thereof.

Hinge members 52 may be conveniently formed by bending the right anglemember, shown in Fig. v'7. One o'f the tabs 58 of member 52 may be bentover tightly against the wire of frame 53, while the other tab 59 may bebent with clearance around upright frame member 59. Hinge members 56 areformed in a similar manner. As shown in Fig. 5, frame 4.1 is coveredwith material, such as canvas, and sewed to form v'container 42, withbase member 48 disposed generally in the center of container 42. Topframes 53 and 55 are covered with material to form internal containerflaps 69 and 6I, respectively'. At-the longitudinal margins of containerbase'62 are sewed parallel rows of loops 63 and 64, known in the art ashesitators. In the embodiment shown, the rst four of the loops 65 inrows 63 and 64 are conventional, while the last three hesitators 66 inthe rows are made larger than normal to accommodate the bulk of thebottom part of cone 22.

Packingv The method of packing the parachute in the container will nowbe described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6 and also with reference toFigs. 9 and 10. Theends ofshroud linesf24 are tucked into rows 63 and 64of the hesitators in the conventional manner of packing a parachute.When the hesitators 65 have been filled with shroud lines, apex 23 ofcone 22 has been reached, for which are provided the progressivelylarger hesitators 66. When the hesitators are lled, internal naps BI and68 are folded over the packed shroud lines in the order named. With ap69 held down against the outwardly biasing action of the springs, canopy28 is folded on top of the exterior of flap 6U; and the flaps 43, 44,45, and 46 are then folded over the outside of the canopy and secured inthe conventional manner, ready to be released by pulling of the ripcord. It will be noted (Fig. 9) that sufficient slack is left at 61between the packed shroud lines and the folded canopy to permit naps and6l to cast oif canopy 28 and clear shroud lines 24 for emergence fromcontainer 42. The biasing 'action of springs 54 causes flap 60 to throwcanopy -28 toward the parachutists feet.

' Operation The operation of the parachute and container of thisinvention, immediately following pulling of the rip cord, will bestvbeseen by reference to Figs. 8, 9, and 10..- In Fig'. 8, the parachutistis about to pull rip cord 68 to release the parachute fromcontainer42within which it has been secured at 69 by conventionalquick-release means.

In Fig. 9, rip oord 68 has opened container 42, and flaps 60 and 6| arebeginning to unfold, expelling folded canopy 28ztoward the feet of theparachutist. `It'wll be noted thatslack portion gli allows unimpededmovement of flaps 68 and In Fig. 10, the parachute iszbeginning to openeven while the remainder of the cone 'and shroud lines are stilltucked'in'the last of the hesitators.

The quick opening canopy is believed to be attributable to the combinedaction of expelling 'flaps 60 and 6I and the action of cone 22 acrossopening 2l, which is believed to provide a vacuum action tending toreduce the descent rate of the parachute.

The advantages of the operation of the parachute of this invention overthat of a conventional parachute are easily seen by reference to Fig. 12illustrating a conventional parachute in descent. Wind current andirregularities in air cause a conventional parachute to tilt as shown inFig. l2, expelling air from under the parachute, as shown by arrow 10,which renders difficult control of the parachute and tends to increasethe descent rate. With the parachute of this invention, the descent isnot only stabilized vertically, but is slowed by the combined action ofthe retention of air and by the vacuum action at the mouth of opening2l.

The particular construction of this invention permits convenient andeven control of its descent rate, as will be explained in connectionwith Fig. 13. In this view, apex 23 of cone 22 has been pulled down, asby having the parachutist pull on control line 3U. With this newconfiguration, the parachute drops more quickly than with theconfiguration shown in Fig. 11; and in the extreme case the parachutistmay permit himself to drop almost in a free fall. In this manner, thedescent rate may be varied from the minimum shown in Fig. 11 to thesubstantially free fall maximum shown in Fig. 13. Changes in rate ofdescent, during the drop, may be made smoothly and quickly by varyingthe pull` exerted on control line 30.

It is to be understood that stabilizing member 22, which also serves inconjunction with opening 2| to decrease descent rate, need notnecessarily be in the form of a cone; but may consist of any member ofgeneral tubular configuration. Figs. l1 and 13, showing the parachute inits two extreme congurations of slowest and fastest descent,respectively, serve to explain the use in the specication and claims ofthe term rotate gamopetalous corolla flower to describe theconfiguration of the parachute.

While the container described herein is especially suited for use withthe parachute of this invention, it will be understood that it may beused with a conventional parachute, if desired.

There has thus been described a parachute and container thereforcombining to form a quick acting unit upon pulling of a rip cord, withnovel features additionally in both the parachute and the containerconsidered as separate units.

While I have shown but one embodiment of my invention, it is susceptibleto modication without departing from the spirit of the invention. I donot wish, therefore, to be limited by the disclosures set forth, butonly by the scope of the appended claims.

facturedand used `by or for the Government of l.the United States' ofAmerica for governmental 'purposes without the .payment of any royaltiesthereon or therefor.

I claimz 1. A parachute and container comprising a base, parallel rowsof hesitators on said base, the size of said hesitators. being graduatedalong theroW to accommodate `the varying bulk of the packed parachute, aparachute having a canopy 'and shroud lines, said shroud lines beingheld 'by said hesitators, internal iaps opposedly attachedto said baseand folded over said shroud jlines, said canopy being folded adjacentthe ex- `terior of one of said internal flaps, an external flap-fattached to said base and folded over said -canopy, and spring meanseffective to bias said int'ernal'ap to anunfolded position.

2. A parachute and container comprisingy a base, holding means mountedon said base, a parachute having a canopy and shroud lines, said shroudlines being held by said holding means, an internal iiap attached tosaid base and folded over said shroud lines, said canopy being foldedadjacent the outside of said internal flap, an external ap folded oversaid canopy, and spring means effective to bias said internal flap to anunfolded position.

3. A parachute and container comprising a base, a row of hesitators onsaid base, the size of said hesitators being graduated along the row toaccommodate the varying bulk of the packed parachute, a parachute havinga canopy and shroud lines, said shroud lines being held by saidhesitators, a substantially at, internal member placed over said shroudlines, said canopy being folded adjacent the outside of said internalmember, an external flap folded over said canopy, and spring meanseifective to bias said internal member outwardly.

4. A parachute and container comprising a base, a parachute having acanopy and shroud lines, said shroud lines being received by said lbase,Ia substantially iiat, internal member .placed over said shroud lines,said canopy being folded ladjacent the outside of said internal member,and spring means effective to bias said internal member outwardly.

5. In a parachute container having Ka base and an ex-ternal iiapattached thereto and adapted to be folded thereover, the combination voftwo parallel rows of hesitators on said base adapted to receive shroudlines of a parachute, lthe size of said hesitators being graduated-along the rows to accommodate the varying bulk of the packed parachute,two internal flaps opposedly attached to said base and adapted to befolded over parachute shroud lines received in said rows of hesitators,one of said flaps being adapted to receive on the outside thereof afolded parachute canopy, and spring means effective to bias saidinternal flaps to an unfolded position.

6. In a parachute container having a base and an external flap attachedthereto and adapted to be folded thereover, the combination of a row ofhesitators on said base adapted to receive shroud lines of a parachute,the size of said hesitators being graduated along the row to accommodatethe varying bulk of the packed parachute, a substantially flat,interna-l member adapted to -be placed over parachute shroud linesreceived in said row of hesitators, and to receive on the outsidethereof a folded parachute, and

spring means effective to bias said internal mem- The inventiondescribed herein may be manuber outwardly.

.7.. a paafachute container 'having aa base, an external flap .adapted`to be :folded thereover, :and means .on .said ibase adapted to Treceiveshrewd lines of a parachute, the combination of an 1nlcernal ap attachedyto said base and 4adapfed to be folded over parachute shroud ylinesreceived hy said means, 1and to receive on 'fthe :outside thereof la.:folded eparachu-te .canopm and :spring means effective to bias saidmiema-l nap yto unfolded position.

8, :a parachute `ccmtairner 4having a adapted to receive parachuteshroud Rines, and an external flap adapted Lto be folded thereoyer, thecombinacion ,of .a ,substantialiy .ii-at., internal member 4adapted tobeplaced @ver parachute shroud lines received by :said :base and toreceime on the outside thereof .a fcded parachute canopy, and springlmeans eectiye me fbias :said

member outwardly.

.DAVID sTA-mWQRTH.

REFERENCES cuan y Thcfvollowing yreferences are of record in the me, .of:this patent:

n UNITED STATES PATENTS lfbunbea' `Name Date 1,353,131 Ruff Sept. 14,1920 2,133.6895 lSmith Api'. 20, 1943 2,33%153 Snlth DBC. 21, 19432,365,230 VQlf DBC. 19, 1944:

FOREIGN PATENTS lNumber Country Date 250;;330 Italy Sep-6. .28, 19261712;382 vFrmzwe July 2D, 1931

